These pontoons are going to be used as terminals for
pontoon cruises, an initiative led by the Tourism Board to boost tourism across
the state. The proposed cruise route will begin from Ekatma Dham (Statue of Oneness)
in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, and journey to the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat.
As
part of this partnership, the pontoons have been dispatched from Kolkata to Kukshi
in Madhya Pradesh.
The agreement aims to facilitate the smooth movement
of cruise ships along the Narmada River between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary of the Tourism and Culture Department,
and Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board revealed that a 120
km route has been planned from the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya to Chandankhedi,
Kukshi. Tourists will then be transported by road from Kukshi to the Statue of
Oneness in Omkareshwar, with stops at Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, and Mandu along
the route. To facilitate this, four jetties will be established, two in Madhya
Pradesh and two in Gujarat.
The
state government will also develop additional infrastructure and amenities for
cruise tourism, promoting economic growth in the region and benefiting the
local population.
Pontoons, serving as floating platforms, will be
strategically placed along the ghats, ensuring safe and comfortable passage for
tourists during their cruise adventures.